Parents should follow their instincts. So the question is, what does a parent do10 years later? Parents are the people who know their children the best,and they have to follow their instincts. We see stories all the time of parents whohave had to go back, and once they get the connection, then they have to fightfor what they want, and they should not give up for fighting for what their child needsin the school system. We have programs in place in every major school district to provide services, and part of the fight doesn't just come from asking for servicesbut asking for services that are appropriate to brain injury. And this is a problem we've had and still do have even though, technically, we shouldn't have this problem anymore. We still have children with moderate to severe brain injurybeing put into special programs with children with CP or with other developmental disorders.And that's not really an appropriate place for a child with brain injury to be placed. So it comes down to education, and the more that gets out there, I think, we have a higher increase in parents who are coming in to us and saying, "My kid had an injury 10 years ago.Could this be what this is related to?" And that's where the field ofpediatric neuropsychology, which is still one of the smallest specialtiesin this country--I think they number in the hundreds of people whoare actually pediatric neuropsychologists in this country--really comes into play.Because that's the specialty that's very sensitive at picking up the relationshipand the pattern of cognitive deficits. So pediatric neurologists and pediatric neuropsychologists become a huge player. And those neuropsychologistsknow how to manage the school systems and help developIEPs or programs for children that are there.

Parents know their children better than anyone. Follow your instincts — right after your child's injury or ten years after the fact.

This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which is dedicated to ensuring that impacted post-9/11 veterans, service members, and their families are thriving long after they return home.